Suggestions: Where is my water going?**fixed**

[mtnman210]

I've had this problem for a couple months now. The water in the radiator goes down randomly. Sometimes I can drive on the freeway and I'm fine, I'll only loose a little. Then I'll drive around the block and the radiator is empty. But no matter what I've driven it I have to put water in. I've checked all the obvious:

Looked for leaks...no drips running or not running
No wet floor--can't be coming out the heater
Oil is fine not milky---not going through the oil
Exhaust--the only time there's any water in it is on start up but it's just the normal condensation

The most recent thing I've found is that it goes down If I have the vent open...not air just vent. But again, no wet floor.

I'm looking for any ideas I may be overlooking or forgetting.

 

[dyeager535]

Are you using antifreeze or straight water at this point? Only reason I mention it is because if antifreeze, it won't evaporate like water, so it's easier to catch in the act.

So far, I've not heard of anyone else having this problem except myself, but if your overflow tank has crud in the bottom, when you shut it off, coolant goes to the tank, but can never be drawn back up. Eventually it overflows, but usually a few minutes after you leave the vehicle, since pressure increases after shutoff.

Do you have pressure in the radiator, and what temp is it running at? (and can you trust the temp reading?)

 

[dontoe]

Sounds like a leaking head gasket...........

 

[4X4HIGH]

I vote for a leaking heater core. There is a drain hole and tube that lets it drain to the outside so long as it isn't plugged and this may make you think the heater core is good. Do you get a fog on the winshield in early evening or early morning?

 

[romeolimagolf]

The best way to find leaks is with a Radiator Pressure Tester. If you do not have one, you can go to Autozone and rent one. I have found they work best when the cooling system is full. So, top it off with water or coolant, hook up the tester (it screws on to your radiator in place of the cap) pump it up to apply pressure, then simply look for leaks.

 

[mtnman210]

Thanks for the ideas. I'm gonna go and play with it some more today and see if I can find anything.

 

[snkplssskin]

4x4 high i get that foggy windshield at night on my way home from work it does not do it when iam driving but if i stop at the store and turn of the truck and when i get back in it there the foggy windshield could not figure out what it was , but sure is a pain in the but.

 

[70jimmy]

Check the hose that comes from the bottom of the overflow reservior and make sure it isn't plugged. Also could your radiator hoses need replacing. Maybe one of them is collapsing when you drive. My 1/3 of a cent. It was 2 cents but with the declining value of the dollar that is what it is worth now.

 

[mtnman210]

well after all the trouble shooting I finally went and bought a $3.99 radiator cap. Drove the truck 30 mins on the freeway and didn't loose any water. So hopefully the probably is gone.

 

[roadnotca]

well after all the trouble shooting I finally went and bought a $3.99 radiator cap. Drove the truck 30 mins on the freeway and didn't loose any water. So hopefully the probably is gone.

I think I did that one also, way many years ago. Its hard to detect because it dribbles onto the core and evaporates.